Flying Column of 3rd Cork
Brigade IRA Enters Bandon
Introduction from Chronology
The Flying Column of the 3rd
(West) Cork Brigade, under Tom Barry, entered Bandon in an attempt to ambush a
patrol of the BA’s Essex Regiment. This results in the deaths of three
members of the Crown Forces.
More Detail
The
column meets a number of RIC men on North Main St coming back from the cinema
and attack them, resulting in the death of one RIC man (Constable Frederick
Perrier) and the wounding of another (Constable Kearns). Another section
of the column in a different part of the town kidnapped two British Army
soldiers and two British Navy sailors. The two soldiers (Corporal Herbert
Stubbs and Private James Knight of the Essex regiment) are shot dead but the
two British Navy men were released.
O’Halpin and Ó Corráin
say that one of the released prisoners is sent back to Major Percival of the
Essex regiment saying that the killings were in reprisal for the conduct of the
Essex Regiment. (See, for example,
Jul-27-20/4; Oct-01-20/5; Dec-02-20/2; Jan-15-21/2; Jan-19-21/2; Feb-04-21/3
and Feb-16-21/1.)
After this engagement, the column is dismissed for two weeks. (Barry disputes elements of Deasy's account.)